So how has everyone been? During this stage of life we are all running around constantly. From work to home, to school and back again. Here in our crazy world we are getting closer to one graduating high school and one having a birthday and just juggling it all.
So I said before I would talk more about this weight loss journey. It is a journey, a slow trek and not a fast sprint. It is so much easier to gain weight than lose it. Food tastes too good. So I joined a little weight loss group called WW, I know you have heard if it. (and no Oprah hasn’t face timed me!) It has taken a commitment from me to make this journey. No matter where someone’s starting weight is, it is still a struggle.
I have always had a love hate relationship with my body. I loved it in my late teens and early 20’s as I was young and the thinnest of my life and well we all feel invincible at that age. Then I had children and was amazed at what my body was capable of doing and making and growing these little babies that became my heartbeat.
Then came the postpartum time frame and my thyroid decided it didnt like me and I yo-yo’ed diet and the cycle of weight gain and loss. Wishing I looked prettier and thinner, wishing for bigger boobs and smaller hips and hair that glistened in the sun while I tended my little humans. Well that didnt happen, boobs definitely changed and not larger at all! I have been blessed with a prominent backside and my natural curly hair has become more of a wild kinky curl and doesnt glisten unless too much anti-frizz serum has been applied!
So here we are, here I am….middle aged, fluffy and dimply and far from a model. BUT….what a blessing to be here. A blessing that I am loved for my lack of physical attributes and appreciated for me and I have had a long talk with myself everyday that I need to appreciate me.
WW isnt a diet, it is a lifestyle. It is planning your meals yet still celebrating life. It is about having a healthier relationship with food and with ones own self. Now weight loss and diets are all personal choices for what works for your life. I have been on every diet known to man– counting calories, fried chicken liver diet (yes in the 80s), military diet (on 3 days off 4), weight watchers, weight loss center with diet pills, divorce (yes I count that as a diet and many losses occurred wink wink) Nutrisystem, met with a nutritionist, Keto/low carb (great diet but I missed fruit and still worried about the full fat that was consumed) and now back to WW. So see, I have had weight issues pretty much my whole life. Or maybe I have tried to compete with society instead of loving me. Just a thought….
So I have learned new recipes and planned more than I ever have before. I have gotten support from those closest to me and I am realizing I am worth the time spent on myself.
So how about you’all? What is your food journey be it overweight or underweight? Not seeing yourself for who you are beyond the scales? I want this to be interactive and a safe place for everyone to talk about what they think or want to talk about.
So tomorrow is weigh day! My son’s birthday was this week and yes I had a piece of cake (and realized life happens and I can choose what to eat and how much and still be ok). So the scale may not budge but it is down 35 pounds from 1/7/19 so not too bad. I will post a face to face picture for comparison at some point.
And I thought I would share a couple of great recipes. Pintrest is an amazing source for recipes as well as the WW app. It is finding what you like and making it work. I am trying to branch out more and try different foods. I just ordered my first box of Built bars , which I have read amazing reviews and am anxious to try. I also am hooked on Premier protein shakes, and again a borrowed recipe where you mix Premier Protein with a double shot of espresso. This is 2 WW points and makes a great. quick breakfast. There is Carmel,Banana cream, Chocolate, Vanilla, Cookies and Cream (yummmmy!!) Strawberries and cream and I believe a peaches and cream. Cookies and cream is my favorite right now. You can find these at Walmart and Sams Club (the best prices).
Ok I am getting carried away! So one recipe that has been a fantastic find. Buffalo Chicken Dip!! No points for 1/3 cup and is it great!!
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/2 cup of Frank’s Buffalo sauce
1 pkg of Ranch dry dressing mix
2 Tbsp of water
1/2 cup of fat free greek yogurt
Place chicken in crockpot and add buffalo sauce, ranch packet, 2 tbsp of water. Cook on low for about 4 hours. Remove the chicken and shred. Return to crockpot and add the greek yogurt and cook for another 30 minutes.
Serve with celery sticks or my favorite Good Thins Sea salt corn chips (41 chips for 3 points) or make a buffalo wrap with Ole Wellness Extreme wrap (wrap is 1 point).
There are so many choices and food that makes you feel satisfied and not deprived. Ok, I could go on all day! What a journey to health and happiness. Wealth isnt on the horizon as far as financial wealth currently! I am blessed in many other ways and that matters so much more. So no matter if you have 5 pounds to loose or 50, it is your journey. You are worth the time, you are worth good health and happiness! I can keep sharing more recipes in the future or you can follow me on Pintrest–45 Steffy.
Now my disclaimer…..I pin things I find hilarious, inappropriate at times, and thought provoking. So my mind and humor is a conundrum in itself. So be warned there is a variety of pins. Also, all the products mentioned haven’t reimbursed me to mention their names or products, I am just sharing what I have found on this weight journey! And finally, in case you were wondering, I never got the bigger boobs. BUT, I have the junk in the trunk still BUT more importantly, a heart that is bigger than both. So folks, you do you and I will keep working on me and let’s help each other in this journey called life!!
And one last thought, when we say we only lost 5 pounds, look at this picture (credit goes to Pintrest for the picture) that shows what 5 pounds looks like. Another fact is for every pound you lose it takes 3 pounds of pressure off of your knee. So a pound is more than just a pound!!
And a face to face to hold me accountable….
December 2018
March 2019…maybe not a noticeable change but a change. So here is to more changes, more happiness and continued good health!!
UPDATE Down 3 more pounds so a total of 38 pounds! Yeah!!